Brake-beam.



L. L. WHITNEY. BRAKE BEAM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 12. I914.

Patented May 18, 1915.

LOREN L. WHITNEY, OF HAMMOND, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR T0 AMERICAN STEEL FOUNDRIES, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

' BRAKE-BEAM.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pat nted May 18, 1915.

Application filed August 12, 1914. Serial No. 856,338.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOREN L. WHITNEY, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Hammond, in the county of Lake and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Brake- Beams, of which the following .is a specification.

My invention relates to brake beams and has particular reference to a novel device for maintaining the strut in proper relation to the compression member of the beam.

In brake beams of the trussed type there is provided a compression member usually of channel or similar shape, a tension member in the form of a round rod, the tension and compression members being joined at their ends and separated at their middle portion by a strut. Usually the compression member is given but little if any camber and therefore means must be provided for maintaining the strut in its proper relation with reference to the ends of the beam. This has heretofore been accomplished by the use of wedge keys and similar devices, the key being held in place by bending down its small end after insertion. However, after once becoming loose the wedge has no further holding effect on the parts.

I propose to maintain the strut in its proper location by providing interlocking projections and recesses on thebeam and strut, maintaining the projection and recesses in engagement by the use of the well known key. This construction provides for a positive connection and avoids the possi bility of the strut becoming loose on the beam. 1

A large portion of the brake beams at present in use are built-up structures employing commercial shapes in their fabrication; that is, the compression member is usually a commercial channel and the tension member a round rod. As is, well known, the strength of a beam must be computed on the basis of its least cross sectional area. Therefore to punch out a hole in the web of a commercial shape such as" commonly used would seriously weaken the beam. Furthermore, it wouldbe diflicult if not impossible to provide a projectiono'n the web of a commercial beam. My invention is particularly adapted for use on builtcompression member having a projection, a

up beams of the type referred to.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of a compression member and strut having my improvements applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig.3 is a perspective viewof recess 14, in its top inner surface, which recess registers with the protuberance 11, on

the compression member when the parts are in their proper relation. The dimension of the inside of the yoke 13 is greater than the depth of the legs of the channel 10, this being necessary in order to permit the engagement of the projection and recess. After the parts are located a wedge 15, is inserted, this wedge having an enlarged head 16, and a tongue 17, on the opposite end. After the wedge has been driven in place the tongue is adapted to be bent down as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, thus preventing the. accidental removal of the key. By employing the construction such as shown the parts are positively held against displacement without the consequent weakening of the compression member due to punching out a hole and riveting the parts together. Further changes will be apparent:-

to those skilled in the art. i Furthermore,

compression member formed of a comme-r cial shape and lmperforate at 1ts middle portion, a projection outwardly from said member, a strut having a recess registering with said projection, and a key for maintaining said parts in engagement, substantially as described.

2. In a brake beam, the combination of a of August, 1914.

greater height than the height of the compression member, and a key filling the space between said compression member and said strut and prevent ng the disengagement of 15 the parts,,substant1ally as described.

Signed at Hammond, Ind, this 7th day Loans L. WHITNEY. Witnesses J. H. PEARSON, ALLEEN McCoy. 

